Juicing things up inside

Renewed energy in the paint gives Irish hope.

Renewed energy in the paint gives Irish hope.

January 27, 2006|TOM NOIE Tribune Staff Writer

Silence sometimes will suffice at halftime of college basketball games when Notre Dame sits on the wrong end of the scoreboard. Five years ago, with Notre Dame down by eight points at intermission against conference rival Georgetown, strategy sessions were put on hold as the Irish gathered inside an MCI Center locker room. "We really didn't talk about too much, just ate a lot of oranges," former Irish All-American Troy Murphy told the Tribune after Notre Dame rallied for a 78-71 victory on Jan. 27, 2001. When the Irish gathered after 20 minutes Tuesday, they trailed the Hoyas 36-28. It was time to trade any fruit for a fresh focus, time for some soul-searching. Notre Dame was down by nine less than six minutes in and eventually fell into a 15-point hole as Georgetown shot 44.4 percent from the floor, including 50 percent from 3, during the first 20 minutes. The Irish effort simply was not acceptable. "We were pretty soft," said senior tri-captain Chris Quinn. "We were not the team we had been in some of the games where we were battling. It was time for us to reevaluate ourselves and pick the energy up." Offensively, that meant concentrating less on the 3-point line. Of Notre Dame's 27 field-goal attempts in the first half, 15 were from beyond the arc. That changed for a stretch in the second half. Instead of making it a H-O-R-S-E contest, the Irish decided to drive the ball to the basket. Torin Francis got in deep twice for easy hoops, as did Rob Kurz, who also unveiled a left-handed runner off the dribble. Quinn tossed in three layups. When his floater fell through with just under 11 minutes remaining, what had been a 10-point deficit became a tie game, one that went to Georgetown in double overtime, 85-82. Notre Dame shot 53.6 percent (15-for-28) and scored 26 of its 34 points in the paint in the second half and overtime sessions. "We really got into a nice rhythm," said Kurz, who finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks in a career-high 43 minutes. "We did a pretty good job of executing our offense." And trying to make plays, even when shots wouldn't fall. Senior Rick Cornett twice muscled his way in for dunk attempts. One time, he flushed it with two hands, the other, he was fouled. Russell Carter also attacked the rim. "We played more aggressive and a little hungrier in the second half," said guard Colin Falls. Passion playBaseline bits